EFFECT OF KHAT (catha edulis) ON BRONCHIAL ASTHMA IN JIMMA UNIVERSITY SPECIALIZED HOSPITAL, ADULT CHEST CLINIC,JIMMA, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Introduction-asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways. About 300 million people worldwide were affected by asthma leading to approximately 250,000 deaths per year. Khat having amphetamine like effect induces the release of catecholamine.. This study deals with the remedial effect of khat on bronchial asthma and shed light in providing new therapeutic option for the treatment of asthma. Objective-to investigate the remedial effect of khat on bronchial asthma Methods - comparative cross sectional study was conducted in JUSH Adult Chest Clinic on170 asthmatic patients with a 1.4 to 1 ratio of non-chewer to chewer between November 2010 and January 2010.Interviewer administered questionnaire, patient history and pulmonary function test using Spirometer was used to collect the data. Result and discussion –of 170 asthmatic patients 72 were chewers and 98 were non chewers Forty nine (68.1%) of chewer and 51(56.1%) non chewer asthmatic patients had experience of asthma symptoms in less than one time per week. Thirty seven (51.4%) chewers and 38(38%) of non chewers had frequency of night time awake in less than two times per month. Forty two (58.3%) chewers and 53(54.1 %) non chewers had frequency of β2 agonist use in less than two days per week. The mean FEV1% of chewers and non chewers was 62% and 46% respectively while their PEFR% was 40% and 26%.The above differences encountered between chewer and non chewer asthmatic patients apparently because khat has amphetamine like effect and an increase in dopamine release plus inhibition of Ach. Conclusion-in conclusion, chewer asthmatic patients had improved FEV1 and PEFR than non chewers with a less frequent asthma attack and less frequent use of β2 agonist. Recommendations-as asthma is heterogeneous disease patient’s close supervision in the disease management is compulsory. khat should be considered as partly medicinal plant as it has effect on air way modulation.